Perks & Tit was recorded at the San Diego Sports Arena, April 9th  1974, the last date of the intense five week American "Burn" tour -  and just three days after the infamous California Jam. Being the  final show, the band let their hair down somewhat and Blackmore in  particular was in devastating form. It's also the first Mk 3 release  on the label.

Sonic Zoom have been back to the original source of the tape thought  to have been used for the first vinyl bootleg of this show, the  strangely titled "Perks & Tit", which appeared on the Kornyphone  label back in the mid seventies (and which has been copied for most  subsequent bootleg issues of this material). Four tracks from this  show turned up first on that original bootleg. Some later appeared on  "Just Might Take Your Life" while the hard to find "Smoke" surfaced  some time after. Apparently the second half of the show was lost, but  Sonic Zoom have been able to restore the between song patter  (including a comment from Glenn that it's nice to be doing a show  without having to worry about being recorded!), Smoke and a four  minute keyboard solo. This is a single CD set, the second part of the  show hasn't been found.

The Sonic Zoom CD digi-pak edition was called Perks & Tit (PUR 206)  and came out in 2003. This reissue - now titled Live In San Diego -  comes in a new jewel-case package and sleeve to match the rest of the  rereleases and includes a descriptive booklet as normal. The music  remains the same.

"Mistreated" from this gig appeared on the EMI box set.

"'This is the last gig of our tour, so it's going to be a bastard, ok?' announces David Coverdale after 'Burn'. Happily, he was absolutely right!

Even when only available on hiss and pop filled bootlegs with titles such as 'Perks & Tit',' the recording of the last show of Deep Purple's 1974 US tour still made a huge impression on the lucky fans who came across it.

'This one's not being taped, so we say and do what we want,' says Glenn gleefully at one point. Little did he know that the night's soundboard recording (including his comment) would be officially released for fans to enjoy almost thirty years down the line, as one of the band's wildest and most downright vicious live recordings. It's rather like being musically (and almost physically) assaulted by the mk3 line-up. The California Jam show is mild by comparison.

Even the pre-show tuning up offers a strong hint of what is about to ensue, with Blackmore energetically skipping up and down the frets while Paice hyperactively flies around his kit. The build up is longer than on any bootleg version, and the sound quality is clearer and more 'in yer face', while retaining the same slightly odd feel caused by the balance of the instruments. The guitar dominates, and considering that the man is in Strat mangling form throughout....well, great!

Blackmore attacks Burn with such aggression that it seems as if he's about to spontaneously combust on the spot. His guitar is forced into incredible growls and screams, with the feedback usually kept (only just) under control. With the track being dragged along at an improper speed, and nearly coming off the rails entirely at times, the rest of the band are left to just try and keep up and somehow hold it all together.

Glenn is certainly up for the task, and by the time Might Just Take Your Life comes along, the others have caught on and help kick the song violently along for its 4 minute duration.

Lay Down Stay Down continues the charge, and rather than giving any respite, Mistreated is introduced with the most awe inspiring of Blackmore guitar barrages. The San Diego Smoke On The Water only surfaced (in incomplete form) on a vinyl bootleg in the early 80s. It's a tremendous version, with every element of the track pushed to its very limit.

In many mk3 shows what had gone on up to this point was only a foretaste of things to come in You Fool No One & Space Truckin', but here it is very hard to imagine there could possibly be another, even higher gear for the band to slip into. Sadly, as those tracks are lost we only have a foretaste in the shape of Lord's five minute organ introduction, which is every bit as stretched out, manic, unpredictable and thrilling as the rest of this incredible set. To say it leaves you longing for more is a huge understatement. Pardon me while I go and play it all again..."

review: David Browne, www.deep-purple.net
photo: Deep Purple Overseas Ltd

This title is available to order from the dpas online store

purple records / sonic zoom catalogue